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No, Brees is not literally going to be the coach. But in every significant way in which the Saints will have to replace Sean Payton, who has been suspended for the entire 2012 campaign, Brees is the guy who will take over.

Play calling and offensive game plan? Yeah, that’s going to be Brees.

Leading the team through critical moments? Yep, that’s Brees.

Being the face of the organization on a daily basis? Drew, you’re the man.

Yeah, yeah, tell me all you want about offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael or defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Carmichael is a glorified administrative assistant, a guy who prefers to work behind the scenes and be left alone. If not for football, he would probably be an accountant or a high school teacher. This is not a shot at the latter two professions; those roles are just generally made up of people not seeking the spotlight.

Spagnuolo, of course, has the personality to be a head coach. That’s why he spent the past three seasons with the St. Louis Rams. However, he has a lot of work to do to rebuild his reputation after that run and he has been in New Orleans for all of 30 seconds. Most of the players on the team probably couldn’t pick Spags out of a two-man lineup.

Assistant head coach Joe Vitt? Sorry, he was suspended for the first six games for his role in the scandal. Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer? Please.

In other words, everything comes back to Brees. In the midst of this storm, Brees is the calming influence who just might be able to salvage a team that has Super Bowl ability.

Of course, you have to pay him first.

Right now, the Saints are in the middle of a stare down with Brees over his contract. Earlier this month, the team put the exclusive franchise tag on him, meaning that Brees can’t sign with another team. In the process, he’s guaranteed roughly between $15 million and $16 million for one year.

Brees, 33, was seeking a deal in the range of $23 million a year. The Saints had countered with $18 million. Both are unrealistic, but the final number is going to come in a lot closer to where Brees wants it than not.

Particularly now.

If there is one player who can command a team more than just about anyone else, it’s Brees. He is universally respected and admired for everything from his performance on the field to his comeback from a career-threatening injury to his community service to his willingness to put his name on a lawsuit against the NFL last year to his leadership on the NFL Players Association executive committee.







Drew Brees has upper hand as bounty punishment puts Saints in dire straits - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

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